Inbred sweet corn line I778S

ABSTRACT

An inbred sweet corn line, designated I778S, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line I778S, to the plants of inbred corn line I778S and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line I778S with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line I778S with another corn line.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive sweet corn inbredline, designated I778S. There are numerous steps in the development ofany novel, desirable plant germplasm. Plant breeding begins with theanalysis and definition of problems and weaknesses of the currentgermplasm, the establishment of program goals, and the definition ofspecific breeding objectives. The next step is selection of germplasmthat possess the traits to meet the program goals. The goal is tocombine in a single variety or hybrid an improved combination ofdesirable traits from the parental germplasm. These important traits mayinclude higher yield, resistance to diseases and insects, better stalksand roots, improved flavor, tolerance to drought and heat, and betteragronomic quality.

Choice of breeding or selection methods depends on the mode of plantreproduction, the heritability of the trait(s) being improved, and thetype of cultivar used commercially (e.g., F₁ hybrid cultivar, purelinecultivar, etc.). For highly heritable traits, a choice of superiorindividual plants evaluated at a single location will be effective,whereas for traits with low heritability, selection should be based onmean values obtained from replicated evaluations of families of relatedplants. Popular selection methods commonly include pedigree selection,modified pedigree selection, mass selection, and recurrent selection.

The complexity of inheritance influences choice of the breeding method.Backcross breeding is used to transfer one or a few favorable genes fora highly heritable trait into a desirable cultivar. This approach hasbeen used extensively for breeding disease-resistant cultivars. Variousrecurrent selection techniques are used to improve quantitativelyinherited traits controlled by numerous genes. The use of recurrentselection in self-pollinating crops depends on the ease of pollination,the frequency of successful hybrids from each pollination, and thenumber of hybrid offspring from each successful cross.

Each breeding program should include a periodic, objective evaluation ofthe efficiency of the breeding procedure. Evaluation criteria varydepending on the goal and objectives, but should include gain fromselection per year based on comparisons to an appropriate standard,overall value of the advanced breeding lines, and number of successfulcultivars produced per unit of input (e.g., per year, per dollarexpended, etc.).

Promising advanced breeding lines are thoroughly tested and compared toappropriate standards in environments representative of the commercialtarget area(s). The best lines are candidates for new commercialcultivars; those elite in traits are used as parents to produce newpopulations for further selection.

These processes, which lead to the final step of marketing anddistribution, usually take from eight to twelve years from the time thefirst cross is made. Therefore, development of new cultivars is atime-consuming process that requires precise forward planning, efficientuse of resources, and a minimum of changes in direction.

A most difficult task is the identification of individuals that aregenetically superior, because for most traits the true genotypic valueis masked by other confounding plant traits or environmental factors.One method of identifying a superior plant is to observe its performancerelative to other experimental plants and to a widely grown standardcultivar. If a single observation is inconclusive, replicatedobservations provide a better estimate of its genetic worth.

The goal of plant breeding is to develop new, unique and superior sweetcorn inbred lines and hybrids. The breeder initially selects and crossestwo or more parental lines, followed by repeated selfing and selection,producing many new genetic combinations. The breeder can theoreticallygenerate billions of different genetic combinations via crossing,selfing and mutations. The breeder has no direct control at the cellularlevel. Therefore, two breeders will never develop the same line, or evenvery similar lines, having the same corn traits.

Each year, the plant breeder selects the germplasm to advance to thenext generation. This germplasm is grown under unique and differentgeographical, climatic and soil conditions, and further selections arethen made, during and at the end of the growing season. The inbred lineswhich are developed are unpredictable. This unpredictability is becausethe breeder's selection occurs in unique environments, with no controlat the DNA level (using conventional breeding procedures), and withmillions of different possible genetic combinations being generated. Abreeder of ordinary skill in the art cannot predict the final resultinglines he develops, except possibly in a very gross and general fashion.The same breeder cannot produce the same line twice by using the exactsame original parents and the same selection techniques. Thisunpredictability results in the expenditure of large research monies todevelop a superior new sweet corn inbred line.

The development of commercial sweet corn hybrids requires thedevelopment of homozygous inbred lines, the crossing of these lines, andthe evaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selectionbreeding methods are used to develop inbred lines from breedingpopulations. Breeding programs combine desirable traits from two or moreinbred lines or various broad-based sources into breeding pools fromwhich inbred lines are developed by selfing and selection of desiredphenotypes. The new inbreds are crossed with other inbred lines and thehybrids from these crosses are evaluated to determine which havecommercial potential.

Pedigree breeding is used commonly for the improvement ofself-pollinating crops or inbred lines of cross-pollinating crops. Twoparents which possess favorable, complimentary traits are crossed toproduce an F₁. An F₂ population is produced by selfing one or severalF₁'s or by intercrossing two F₁'s (sib mating). Selection of the bestindividuals is usually begun in the F₂ population; then, beginning inthe F₃, the best individuals in the best families are selected.Replicated testing of families, or hybrid combinations involvingindividuals of these families, often follows in the F₄ generation toimprove the effectiveness of selection for traits with low heritability.At an advanced stage of inbreeding (i.e., F₆ and F₇), the best lines ormixtures of phenotypically similar lines are tested for potentialrelease as new cultivars.

Mass and recurrent selections can be used to improve populations ofeither self- or cross-pollinating crops. A genetically variablepopulation of hetero-zygous individuals is either identified or createdby intercrossing several different parents. The best plants are selectedbased on individual superiority, outstanding progeny, or excellentcombining ability. The selected plants are intercrossed to produce a newpopulation in which further cycles of selection are continued.

Backcross breeding has been used to transfer genes for a simplyinherited, highly heritable trait into a desirable homozygous cultivaror inbred line which is the recurrent parent. The source of the trait tobe transferred is called the donor parent. The resulting plant isexpected to have the attributes of the recurrent parent (e.g., cultivar)and the desirable trait transferred from the donor parent. After theinitial cross, individuals possessing the phenotype of the donor parentare selected and repeatedly crossed (backcrossed) to the recurrentparent. The resulting plant is expected to have the attributes of therecurrent parent (e.g., cultivar) and the desirable trait transferredfrom the donor parent.

Descriptions of other breeding methods that are commonly used fordifferent traits and crops can be found in one of several referencebooks (e.g., Allard, 1960; Simmonds, 1979; Sneep et al., 1979; Fehr,1987).

Proper testing should detect any major faults and establish the level ofsuperiority or improvement over current cultivars. In addition toshowing superior performance, there must be a demand for a new cultivarthat is compatible with industry standards or which creates a newmarket. The introduction of a new cultivar will incur additional coststo the seed producer, the grower, processor and consumer; for specialadvertising and marketing, altered seed and commercial productionpractices, and new product utilization. The testing preceding release ofa new cultivar should take into consideration research and developmentcosts as well as technical superiority of the final cultivar. Forseed-propagated cultivars, it must be feasible to produce seed easilyand economically.

Once the inbreds that give the best hybrid performance have beenidentified, the hybrid seed can be reproduced indefinitely as long asthe homogeneity of the inbred parents is maintained. A single-crosshybrid is produced when two inbred lines are crossed to produce the F₁progeny. A double-cross hybrid is produced from four inbred linescrossed in pairs (A×B and C×D) and then the two F₁ hybrids are crossedagain (A×B)×(C×D). Much of the hybrid vigor exhibited by F₁ hybrids islost in the next generation (F₂). Consequently, seed from hybridvarieties is not used for planting stock.

Sweet corn is an important and valuable vegetable crop. Thus, acontinuing goal of plant breeders is to develop stable, high yieldingsweet corn hybrids that are agronomically sound. The reasons for thisgoal are obviously to maximize the amount of ears and kernels producedon the land used and to supply food for humans. To accomplish this goal,the sweet corn breeder must select and develop sweet corn plants thathave the traits that result in superior parental lines for producinghybrids.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a novel inbred corn line,designated I778S. This invention thus relates to the seeds of inbredcorn line I778S, to the plants of inbred corn line I778S and to methodsfor producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line I778Swith itself or another corn line. This invention further relates tohybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line I778Swith another corn line.

The inbred corn plant of the invention may further comprise, or have, acytoplasmic factor that is capable of conferring male sterility. Partsof the corn plant of the present invention are also provided, such ase.g., pollen obtained from an inbred plant and an ovule of the inbredplant.

In one aspect, the present invention provides for single gene convertedplants of I778S. The single transferred gene may preferably be adominant or recessive allele. Preferably, the single transferred genewill confer such traits as male sterility, herbicide resistance, insectresistance, resistance for bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, malefertility, enhanced nutritional quality, and industrial usage. Thesingle gene may be a naturally occurring maize gene or a transgeneintroduced through genetic engineering techniques.

In another aspect, the present invention provides regenerable cells foruse in tissue culture or inbred corn plant I778S. The tissue culturewill preferably be capable of regenerating plants having thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the foregoing inbredcorn plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially the samegenotype as the foregoing inbred corn plant. Preferably, the regenerablecells in such tissue cultures will be embryos, protoplasts, meristematiccells, callus, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, silk, kernels,ears, cobs, husks or stalks. Still further, the present inventionprovides corn plants regenerated from the tissue cultures of theinvention.

DEFINITIONS

In the description and tables which follow, a number of terms are used.In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms,the following definitions are provided:

Allele. The allele is any of one or more alternative forms of a gene,all of which alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploidcell or organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy correspondingloci on a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing. Backcrossing is a process in which a breeder repeatedlycrosses hybrid progeny back to one of the parents, for example, a firstgeneration hybrid F₁ with one of the parental genotypes of the F₁hybrid.

Daily heat unit value. The daily heat unit value is calculated asfollows: (The maximum daily temperature+the minimum daily temperature)/2minus 50. All temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit. The maximumtemperature threshold is 86°, if temperatures exceed this, 86 is used.The minimum temperature threshold is 50°, if temperatures go below this,50 is used.

Endosperm Type. Endosperm type refers to endosperm genes and types suchas starch, sugary alleles (su1, su2, etc.), sugary enhancer or extender,waxy, amylose extender, dull, brittle alleles (bt1, bt2, etc.), othersh2 alleles, and any combination of these.

Essentially all the physiological and morphological characteristics. Aplant having essentially all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics means a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics, except for the characteristics derived from theconverted gene.

HTU. HTU is the summation of the daily heat unit value calculated fromemergence to harvest.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL). Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Regeneration. Regeneration refers to the development of a plant fromtissue culture.

Single Gene Converted. Single gene converted or conversion plant refersto plants which are developed by a plant breeding technique calledbackcrossing wherein essentially all of the desired morphological andphysiological characteristics of an inbred are recovered in addition tothe single gene transferred into the inbred via the backcrossingtechnique or via genetic engineering.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Inbred sweet corn line I778S is a yellow sweet corn with a sh2 endospermand superior characteristics, and provides an excellent parental line incrosses for producing first generation (F₁) hybrid sweet corn.

I778S was developed from a related cross of breeding lineP3EGTR7SH×sweet corn inbred I301S. This cross was then selfed andselected using the pedigree method of plant breeding. Resistance toCommon Rust and Maize Dwarf Mosaic and tolerance to Northern Leaf Blightwere selected during the inbreeding process.

Inbred sweet corn line I778S has the following morphologic and othercharacteristics (based primarily on data collected at Nampa, Id.).

Variety Description Information

1. TYPE: Inbred

2. REGION WHERE DEVELOPED: Nampa, Id.

3. VIGOR: (1=very weak-5=very strong): 3.5

4. MATURITY:

Days From planting to 50% of plants in tassel 67 From planting to 50% ofplants in silk 71

5. PLANT:

Plant Height (to tassel tip): 139.7 cm

Ear Height (to base of top ear): 50.04 cm

Average number of Tillers: 2.5

Average Number of Ears per Stalk: 1.2

Anthocyanin Markings: None

6. LEAF:

Width of Ear Node Leaf: 8.05 cm

Length of Ear Node Leaf: 83.06 cm

Leaf Angle from 2nd leaf above ear: 40°

Leaf Sheath Pubescence (1=none-5=peach fuzz): 2

Marginal waves (1=none-5=many): 5

Longitudinal Creases (1=none-5=many): 1

7. TASSEL:

Number of Tassel Branches: 19.5

Branch Angle from Central Spike: 40°

Tassel Length (from top leaf collar to tassel top): 32.55 cm

Anther Color: Yellow

Glume Color: Green

8. EAR:

Silk color (3 days after emergence): Yellow

Husk Extension: 10.1 cm

Number of flag leaves: 3.5

Average length of flag: 3.4 cm

Average width of flag: 1.25 cm

Ear Length: 17.05 cm

Ear Diameter at mid-point: 3.9 cm

Number of Kernel Rows: 14.8

Row Straightness (1=very scrambled-5=perfectly straight): 3

Shank Length: 14.0 cm

Shape: Moderate taper, some flat tips

9. KERNEL:

Color: Yellow

Endosperm Type: sh2

10. COB:

Cob Color: White, slight green

11. DISEASE RESISTANCE

Rating (1=susceptible-5=resistant)

4.8 Common Rust

4.0 Maize Dwarf Mosaic

2.7 Northern Leaf Blight

2.5 Stewart's Wilt Resistance

This invention is also directed to methods for producing a corn plant bycrossing a first parent corn plant with a second parent corn plant,wherein the first or second corn plant is the inbred corn plant from theline I778S. Further, both first and second parent corn plants may befrom the inbred line I778S. Therefore, any methods using the inbred cornline I778S are part of this invention: selfing, backcrosses, hybridbreeding, and crosses to populations. Any plants produced using inbredcorn line I778S as a parent are within the scope of this invention.Advantageously, the inbred corn line is used in crosses with other cornvarieties to produce first generation (F₁) corn hybrid seed and plantswith superior characteristics.

As used herein, the term “plant” includes plant cells, plantprotoplasts, plant cell of tissue culture from which corn plants can beregenerated, plant calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that are intactin plants or parts of plants, such as pollen, flowers, kernels, ears,cobs, leaves, husks, stalks, and the like.

The present invention contemplates a corn plant regenerated from atissue culture of an inbred (e.g., I778S) or hybrid plant of the presentinvention. As is well known in the art, tissue culture of corn can beused for the in vitro regeneration of a corn plant. By way of example, aprocess of tissue culturing and regeneration of corn is described inEuropean Patent Application, publication 160,390, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated by reference. Corn tissue culture procedures arealso described in Green & Rhodes (I 982) and Duncan, et al., (1985). Thestudy by Duncan et al., (1985) indicates that 97 percent of culturedplants produced calli capable of regenerating plants. Subsequent studieshave shown that both inbreds and hybrids produced 91 percent regenerablecalli that produced plants.

Other studies indicate that non-traditional tissues are capable ofproducing somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration. See, e.g.,Songstad et al., (1988); Rao et al., (1986); and Conger et al., (1987),the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.Regenerable cultures may be initiated from immature embryos as describedin PCT publication WO 95/06128, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

Thus, another aspect of this invention is to provide for cells whichupon growth and differentiation produce the inbred line I778S.

I778S is a yellow seeded sh2 sweet corn inbred. The background of I778Sis similar to that of I701S. General ear shape, kernel color tint, seedquality, plant and tassel style is reflective of I701S. The foliage ofI778S is dark green and the variety has a very strong Maize Dwarf MosaicVirus resistance and possesses the Rp1d gene for common rust resistance.I778S expresses a moderate reaction to Northern Corn Leaf Blightinfection. I778S is a main season inbred and is well adapted for use asa female or male in seed production. This sweet corn inbred contributesto high yield and high cut kernel recovery in processing hybrids.

The inbred has shown uniformity and stability. It has beenself-pollinated and ear-rowed a sufficient number of generations, withcareful attention to uniformity of plant type to ensure homozygosity andphenotypic stability. The line has been increased both by hand andsibbed in isolated fields with continued observations for uniformity. Novariant traits have been observed or are expected in I778S.

Table

In the table that follows, the traits and characteristics of inbredsweet corn line I778S are given in hybrid combination along with data oncommercial check hybrids. The first hybrid listed in the table containsI778S as one parent. Crisp N Sweet 710 is a commercial check hybrid.Information for the hybrids includes the following traits:

In the Tables, Columns 1 and 2 list the Hybrid and location where grown.

Column 3 shows the heat units (HTU) for the hybrid and commercial check.

Column 4 shows the yield (Yield) in tons of green corn or green weightper acre for the hybrid and commercial check.

Column 5 gives the cut corn (Cut Corn) in tons of kernels cut from thecobs per acre for the hybrid and commercial check.

Column 6 gives the cases per acre (Case/Acre) of canned product per acrefor the hybrid and commercial check.

Column 7 is the percent of recovery (% Recov) of cut corn per yield forthe hybrid and commercial check.

Column 8 represents the percent of moisture (% H20) of the kernels atharvest for the hybrid and commercial check.

Yield Data for 1998 and 1999 % Cut Case/ Re- % Hybrid Location HTU YieldCorn Acre cov H20 1778S × 1816S LeSueur, 1828 8.3 3.4 477 41.0 77.0 MN1778S × 1816S Sun Prairie, 1905 6.7 1.9 259 27.6 76.6 WI 1778S × 1816SMendota, IL 1820 6.1 1.8 253 29.7 77.7 1778S × 1816S LeSueur, 2010 11.62.9 420 25.3 77.7 MN 1778S × 1816S Sun Prairie, 1763 7.8 1.6 219 20.178.7 WI 1778S × 1816S Mendota, IL 1682 4.8 1.3 183 27.4 77.0 Average1834 7.6 2.2 302 28.5 77.5 CrispNSweet LeSueur, 1842 6.6 2.2 308 33.078.8 710 MN CrispNSweet Sun Prairie, 1700 6.0 1.6 223 26.6 78.7 710 WICrispNsweet Mendota, IL 1781 5.1 1.6 223 31.6 78.3 710 CrispNSweetLeSueur, 1962 8.0 2.8 313 27.2 78.2 710 MN CrispNSweet Sun Prairie, 17376.4 1.5 205 22.9 78.5 710 WI CrispNSweet Mendota, IL 1672 3.3 1.0 14230.8 78.0 710 Average 1782 5.9 1.8 236 28.7 78.4

When the term inbred corn plant is used in the context of the presentinvention, this also includes any single gene conversions of thatinbred. The term single gene converted plant as used herein refers tothose corn plants which are developed by a plant breeding techniquecalled backcrossing wherein essentially all of the desired morphologicaland physiological characteristics of an inbred are recovered in additionto the single gene transferred into the inbred via the backcrossingtechnique. Backcrossing methods can be used with the present inventionto improve or introduce a characteristic into the inbred. The termbackcrossing as used herein refers to the repeated crossing of a hybridprogeny back to one of the parental corn plants for that inbred. Theparental corn plant which contributes the gene for the desiredcharacteristic is termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. Thisterminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used onetime in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur. Theparental corn plant to which the gene or genes from the nonrecurrentparent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent as it is usedfor several rounds in the backcrossing protocol (Poehlman & Sleper,1994; Fehr, 1987). In a typical backcross protocol, the original inbredof interest (recurrent parent) is crossed to a second inbred(nonrecurrent parent) that carries the single gene of interest to betransferred. The resulting progeny from this cross are then crossedagain to the recurrent parent and the process is repeated until a cornplant is obtained wherein essentially all of the desired morphologicaland physiological characteristics of the recurrent parent are recoveredin the converted plant, in addition to the single transferred gene fromthe nonrecurrent parent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalinbred. To accomplish this, a single gene of the recurrent inbred ismodified or substituted with the desired gene from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphological,constitution of the original inbred. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross, one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable, agronomicallyimportant trait to the plant. The exact backcrossing protocol willdepend on the characteristic or trait being altered to determine anappropriate testing protocol. Although backcrossing methods aresimplified when the characteristic being transferred is a dominantallele, a recessive allele may also be transferred. In this instance itmay be necessary to introduce a test of the progeny to determine if thedesired characteristic has been successfully transferred.

Many single gene traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single gene traits may or may not betransgenic, examples of these traits include but are not limited to,male sterility, waxy starch, herbicide resistance, resistance forbacterial, fungal, or viral disease, insect resistance, male fertility,enhanced nutritional quality, industrial usage, yield stability andyield enhancement. These genes are generally inherited through thenucleus. Some known exceptions to this are the genes for male sterility,some of which are inherited cytoplasmically, but still act as singlegene traits. Several of these single gene traits are described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,777,196; 5,948,957 and 5,969,212, the disclosures of whichare specifically hereby incorporated by reference.

A further aspect of the invention relates to tissue culture of cornplants designated I778S. As used herein, the term “tissue culture”indicates a composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant. Exemplary types of tissue cultures are protoplasts, calli, plantclumps, and plant cells that can generate tissue culture that are intactin plants or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, flowers, kernels,ears, cobs, leaves, husks, stalks, roots, root tips, anthers, silk andthe like. In a preferred embodiment, tissue culture is embryos,protoplast, meristematic cells, pollen, leaves or anthers. Means forpreparing and maintaining plant tissue culture are well known in theart. By way of example, a tissue culture comprising organs such astassels or anthers, has been used to produce regenerated plants. (SeeU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,445,961; 5,322,789; 5,948,957 and 5,969,212, thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference).

Deposit Information

A deposit of the Harris Moran Seed Company inbred sweet corn line I778Sdiclosed above and recited in the appended claims has been made withethe American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). 10801 University Boulevard,Manassas, Va. 20110. The date of deposit was Jul. 22, 2002. The depositof 2,000 seeds were taken from the same deposit maintained by HarrisMoran Seed Company since prior to the filing date of this application.All restrictions upon the deposit have been removed, and the deposit isintended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. ∝1.801-1.809. TheATCC accession number is PTA—4560. The deposit will be maintained in thedepository for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the last request,or for the effective life of the patent, whichever is longer, and willbe replaced as necessary during that period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An inbred corn seed designated I778S, a sample of said seed having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA—4560.
 2. A corn plant, or parts thereof, produced by growing the seed of claim
 1. 3. Pollen of the plant of claim
 2. 4. An ovule of the plant of claim
 2. 5. The corn plant of claim 2, wherein said plant further comprises a genetic factor conferring male sterility.
 6. A tissue culture of regenerable cells of a corn plant of inbred line I778S, wherein the tissue regenerates plants capable of expressing all the morphological and physiological characteristics of the inbred line I778S; a sample of said seed having been deposited under ATCC Acession No. PTA—4560.
 7. A tissue culture according to claim 6, cells or protoplasts of the tissue culture being from a tissue selected from the group consisting of leaves, pollen, embryos, roots, root tips, anthers, silks, flowers, kernels, ears, cobs, husks, and stalks.
 8. A method for producing a hybrid corn seed comprising crossing a first inbred parent corn plant with a second inbred parent corn plant and harvesting the resultant hybrid corn seed, wherein said first or second parent corn plant is the corn plant of claim
 2. 9. A hybrid corn seed produced by the method of claim
 8. 10. A hybrid corn plant, or parts thereof, produced by growing said hybrid corn seed of claim
 9. 11. Corn seed produced by growing said hybrid corn plant of claim
 10. 12. A corn plant, or parts thereof, produced from seed of claim
 11. 13. A method for producing a hybrid corn seed comprising crossing an inbred plant according to claim 2 with another, different corn plant.
 14. A hybrid corn seed produced by the method of claim
 13. 15. A hybrid corn plant, or its parts, produced by growing said hybrid corn seed of claim
 14. 16. Corn seed produced from said hybrid corn plant of claim
 15. 17. A corn plant, or its parts, produced from the corn seed of claim
 16. 18. The corn plant of claim 2, further comprising a single gene conversion.
 19. The single gene conversion corn plant of claim 18, where the gene is selected from the group consisting of: a transgene, a dominant allele and a recessive allele.
 20. The single gene conversion corn plant of claim 19, where the gene confers a characteristic selected from the group consisting of: herbicide resistance; insect resistance; resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease; male sterility; endosperm type and improved nutritional quality. 